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Ben Hargreaves

Senior Environmental Engineer, 10 years

Riverton Group · Townsville, QLD · 10 years experience

Not Available

About

Environmental engineer specialising in mine water management, acid mine drainage (AMD) prediction and treatment, and environmental impact assessment for Queensland resources projects. Ten years across operating coal and gold mines and greenfield rehabilitation planning. Recent work includes EPA-referred AMD source-term modelling for two regional mines, contaminated-land delineation at legacy tailings sites, and closure-plan peer review for a central Queensland gold operation. MEngSc (UQ); member IAH and AusIMM.

Expertise

Engineering

Sector Experience

Mining & ResourcesWater & UtilitiesGovernment & Public Sector

Qualifications & Registrations

Academic Qualifications

Master of Science, Hydrogeology

2018

University of Queensland

Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), Environmental Engineering

2015

James Cook University

Professional Registrations

RPEQ

#90123

Board of Professional Engineers Queensland

Experience

Senior Environmental Engineer

2021–Present

Riverton Group

Mine water management, groundwater modelling, and environmental impact assessment.

Environmental Engineer

2017–2021

Klohn Crippen Berger

AMD prediction, water balance modelling, and closure water management.

Graduate Environmental Scientist

2015–2017

Queensland Government (DES)

Environmental regulation and compliance assessment for mining operations.

Project History

Mine Water Management Plan — Coal Mine Expansion

2025

Anglo American · Mining & Resources

Lead Water EngineerHands-On

Developed an integrated mine water management plan for a major coal mine expansion.

Environmental Impact Statement — Gold Project

2024

Newcrest · Mining & Resources

Lead Environmental EngineerHands-On

Led the groundwater and surface water components of an EIS for a proposed open-cut gold mine.

Acid Mine Drainage Treatment System Design

2023

Queensland Government · Government & Public Sector

Design EngineerHands-On

Designed a passive AMD treatment system for a closed copper mine. Reduced metal loads by 95%.

Projects / Case Studies

Standout projects from Ben's career, with the challenge, approach, and outcome for each.

Acid mine drainage source-term modelling at a regional gold operation

2024

Central Queensland gold mine (confidential) · Water & Utilities

Lead hydrogeochemical modellerHands-on

Independent AMD prediction and rehabilitation strategy for a legacy tailings storage facility under EPA referral.

Challenge

Operator needed defensible source-term predictions for post-closure water quality and a rehabilitation strategy acceptable to the regulator.

Solution

Built a coupled kinetic-geochemistry model calibrated against humidity-cell and field-scale monitoring, paired with cover-system design informed by a decade of site climate data.

Outcome

Approach accepted by the Queensland DES; closure plan progressed to detailed design. Predicted AMD loads reduced by approximately 70% under the recommended cover system.